Customizable-weighted blankets

ABSTRACT

A weighted blanket that includes: a first side; a second side; a series of channels along a length or a width of the blanket; at least one weighted panel adapted for placement in one of the series of channels; and a means to seal each channel adapted to secure a weighted panel within each respective channel. The first side and second side both preferably include a zipper or hook and loop connector along the length thereof. Each weighted panel may further include a means to seal at each end of the weighted panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a customizable-weighted blanket, whereweight is selectively added to a blanket.

Description of Related Art

Common bedding materials are typically used to assist in providing acomfortable sleeping area for an individual. Bedsheet covers are usuallyused to cover a mattress or other underlying surface as a means toprovide a comfortable surface for lying down. Further a sheet and/orblanket are commonly used to cover an individual once in a proneposition. In addition to covering and comfort, blankets are also usedfor therapeutic purposes. A weighted blanket provides such therapeuticuse that provides users with a proprioceptive input. A weighted blankethelps the user to gain awareness of their body positioning in relationto space and is particularly useful for individuals with sensoryprocessing disorder or developmental disorders such as autism orAsperger syndrome. Further, the weighted blanket may be used byindividuals suffering from anxiety, sleep disorders or PTSD. Use of aweighted blanket can assist in alleviating irritability, stress and/oranxiety. Typically, weighted blankets are lined with evenly distributedweight and users may select the blanket weight and size appropriate fortheir use. The even pressure may provide a deep pressure touchstimulation. Such a weighted blanket is disclosed in U.S. PatentPublication 2011/0047698 to Parker. This particular reference disclosesa blanket with an inner liner filled with weighted filler material andclosed to limit movement of the weighted material within the innerliner.

One drawback of the prior art relates to the weight distribution.Typically, the weighted blanket is limited to one specific weight, andthe inability for the weight of the blanket to be increased or decreasedby customizing the weighted panels as the user's needs and/or sizechange. Weight is evenly distributed within the blanket, however a usermay desire to apply weight pressure to a particular body part or area.Further, a user may wish to apply a first weight to a particular areaand a second weight to second area, such flexibility is unavailable in aweighted blanket of the prior art. It would therefore be advantageous todevelop a blanket with sectional weighting of the blanket to provide theuser with optional weight distribution in the blanket as desired. Theweight of the blanket is unable to be adjusted to the individual'sneeds. A user may need to increase or decrease the overall weight of theblanket and be unable to, rendering the blanket unusable and/orineffective. Consequently, the user would then need to purchase anentirely new blanket of appropriate weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a weighted blanket that includes: afirst side; a second side; a series of channels along the length orwidth of the blanket, wherein the channels include openings; at leastone weighted panel adapted for placement in one of the series ofchannels, where each weighted panel is placed through one of theopenings; and hook and loop connectors in each channel are adapted tosecure a weighted panel within each respective channel. The first sideand second side both preferably include a zipper along the lengththereof. Each weighted panel may further include a hook and loopconnector at each end of the weighted panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a top view of a weighted blanket in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the weighted blanket on a mattressin accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a customizable weighted blanket thatuses channels adapted to receive weighted panels to create a customizedweighted blanket. The weighted panels may be evenly distributed acrossthe blanket and as a result evenly distribute weight across a person'sbody. Alternatively, a user may place panels in desired channelstherefore varying the weight distribution in the weighted blanket. Aseries of openings are provided along two parallel sides of the blanketto receive the weighted panels. This system provides a user with anopportunity to insert weighted panels in key positions along the lengthor width of the blanket as desired. The panels may come in a variety ofweight choices and therefore heavy or lighter panels may be used.Ideally the weighted panels should be about 10% plus one to two poundsof the individual's ideal body weight. The overall weight of the blanketmay be increased or decreased as desired by the user. So if the blanketused by a child, additional weight may be added as the child grows.Further, a user my find an ideal weight for the blanket by adding orremoving weighted panels as needed.

In reference to FIG. 1, a top view of a weighted blanket 100 isdepicted. The weighted blanket 100 includes a zipper 35 along each sideof the blanket 100. The zipper 35 seals the panels 37, shown in FIG. 2,into channels 30 along the length of the blanket. Hook and loopconnectors may be used in place of the zipper 35 in an alternativeclosure means in an alternative embodiment. The channels 30 are shownalong the length of the blanket and have a strip of hook and loopconnectors 32 within each channel 30 to secure the weighted panel 37within the particular channel 30 for receiving the panel 37. Thechannels 30 may also run along the width of the blanket. FIG. 2 depictsa perspective view of the Blanket 100. In this perspective view, anindividual panel 37 is shown with a strip of hook and loop connectors ateach end of the panel 37, further buttons or snaps may be used as analternative means to fasten each end of the panel 37. This panel 37 isplaced into a channel 30 of the blanket 100. Each channel 30 is capableof receiving a weighted panel 37 as shown in FIG. 2.

The panels slide within the appropriate channel and hook and loopconnectors, buttons or snaps join the panel to the channel. The panelsmay be removed as needed to remove the weighted effect of the blanket.As can be seen the panels may be placed in each channel provided alongthe length of the blanket to provide an even distribution of weight ascharacterized by the traditional weighted blanket. Or alternatively, auser may be limit the number of the channels that receive a panel forweighting purposes. Further a user could use a different weighted panelfor each channel if so desired, where lighter panels cover the user'supper torso and heavier panels cover the lower torso and legs.Conversely heavier panels may be used on the user's upper torso andlighter panels cover the lower torso and legs. The user may effectivelyincrease or decrease the overall weight of the blanket. As such thisflexibility provides a customizable weighted blanket as desired by theuser to achieve the therapeutic results as desired.

Another feature of this blanket includes the ability to wash the blanketwith greater ease in a conventional washer and dryer. Standard homewashers and dryers are not capable of handling larger heavier blanketsand therefor conventional weighted blankets need to be washed incommercial machines. The present invention enables the user to take theweighted panels out of the blanket and wash the blanket and weightedpanels in smaller loads that a conventional washer and dryer may easilyhandle.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order tobest explain the principles of the invention and its practicalapplication, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilizethe invention and various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A weighted blanket comprising: a. a first side;b. a second side; c. a series of channels along a length or a width ofthe blanket; d. at least one weighted panel adapted for placement in oneof the series of channels; and e. a means to seal in each channeladapted to secure a weighted panel within each respective channel. 2.The weighted blanket according to claim 1, where the means to sealincludes hook and loop connectors, buttons or snaps.
 3. The weightedblanket according to claim 1, where the first side includes a zipper andthe second side includes a zipper.
 4. The weighted blanket according toclaim 1, where each weighted panel includes a hook and loop connector ateach end of the weighted panel.
 5. The weighted blanket according toclaim 1, where the weight panels vary in weigh.
 6. A weighted blanketcomprising: a. a first side; b. a second side; c. a series of channelsalong the length of the blanket; d. a weighted panel in each of thechannels, where each panel includes a distinct weight; and e. hook andloop connectors in each channel adapted to secure a weighted panelwithin each respective channel.
 7. A method of creating a weightedblanket comprising the steps of: a. sectioning a blanket into a seriesof channels, where each channel is adapted to receive a weighted panel;and b. inserting a weighted panel into at least one channel.
 8. Themethod of creating a weighted blanket according to claim 6, wherein aweighted panel is inserted into each channel and each panel is adistinct weight.
 9. The method of creating a weighted blanket accordingto claim 6, wherein a weighted panel is inserted into each channel andeach panel is the same weight.